FOUR STUDIES ON MOTORCYCLE SAFETY: TRAINING, ATTITUDES TO HELMETS, FRONT LIGHTING AND INTEGRATED BRAKES

Four studies are briefly described concerned with motorcycle rider training, attitudes to a helmet law, front lighting and integrated brakes: (1) a sample of persons who had taken the motorcycle safety foundation's motorcycle rider course and a sample which had not taken the course completed a survey about their exposure and accidents. It was found that those who had taken the course did not have a lower accident or violation rate, but had lower mean costs per accident to repair the motorcycles and for medical treatment; (2) Illinois is a state without a helmet law. A representative survey of 1048 persons showed that 95 per cent felt that helmets were effective and 88 per cent that there should be a helmet law. In samples of motorcyclists and motorcycle course instructors, 51 per cent and 56 per cent, respectively, supported a law; (3) time gaps allowed by drivers were lower when they crossed in front of a motorcycle using only the headlight than when two amber lamps were also lighted, spaced 41 cms on either side of the headlamp. Larger gaps still were allowed for an automobile; (4) braking performance was measured of two motorcyclists each riding three motorcycles, one of which had an integrated front-rear brake. Using front brakes only, braking performance was comparable for all motorcycles. There was a significantly greater mean deceleration achieved by the motorcycle with the integrated brake system when foot brakes alone were used (integrated or rear only). Approaches to reduce accidents and injuries involving motorcyclists are discussed based on these studies. (Author/TRRL)

• Record URL:
  • http://arrbknowledge.com
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was presented during the 12th Australian Road Research Board Conference, Hobart, Tasmania, 27-31 August 1984.
• Corporate Authors:

  ARRB

  Melbourne, Victoria  Australia 
• Authors:
  • Mortimer, R G
• Conference:
  • Australian Road Research Board Conference Proc
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 30-39
• Serial:
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue Number: 7

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Amber; Attitudes; Braking; Conferences; Deceleration; Driver training; Headlamps; Helmets; Highway safety; Injuries; Laws; Motorcycles; Motorcyclists; Prevention; Protective clothing; Safety; Traffic safety; Vehicle lighting
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Old TRIS Terms: Integrated brakes
• ITRD Terms: 1661: Accident prevention; 2267: Attitude (psychol); 1874: Braking; 8525: Conference; 1687: Crash helmet; 5416: Deceleration; 1571: Driver training; 1342: Headlamp; 1221: Motorcycle; 1752: Motorcyclist; 1665: Safety; 8122: USA
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; Vehicles and Equipment; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00393391
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Jun 30 1985 12:00AM